Modifying Child Support

If the court decides that there has been a major change in circumstances, the court can modify (change) the child support order. A party must apply to the court to have an order modified.

The Iowa Judicial Branch has an Interactive Court Form for Child Support Modification, which asks the user questions to help complete the form. The Iowa Judicial Branch also provides a Guide to Representing Yourself in a Child Support Modification Case in Iowa, along with many other forms relating to modifying child support in the “Child Support” folder of the Court Forms page.

The court will consider a variety of factors when deciding whether there has been a substantial change in circumstances. Examples include changes in a party's employment, earning capacity, income, or resources; receipt of an inheritance, pension, or other gift; changes in a party’s medical expenses; changes in the number or needs of a party's dependents; changes in a party’s residence; or a party's remarriage. Iowa Code section 598.21C includes a full list of the factors a court must consider in deciding whether to modify child support.

Iowa Department of Human Services' Child Support Services can also help in modifying child support orders. For more details on their services, read the Child Support Recovery Unit’s Procedures for Modifying Child Support Obligations document.